Port Wentworth mother aims to raise awareness of pediatric stroke

For many people, the word ‘stroke’ is commonly associated with the older generation, a person with high blood pressure or cholesterol or diabetes.

But few people know that pediatric stroke is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in children. Pediatric stroke occurs most commonly in children younger than 1 month old. Because their brains haven’t matured it’s often difficult to detect any problems they might be having. This, along with a lack of information and awareness, often leads to misdiagnoses.

One Port Wentworth mother wants to see that change.

Lauren Watkins’ 2-year-old son Aiden suffered an ischemic stroke at birth, and she has spent the past two years trying to find answers and raise awareness about childhood strokes.

“I had no idea it even happened to children. I never thought of a child being able to have a stroke. I just thought it was a problem for older people with high blood pressure or other problems like that,” said Watkins, “It was an eye-opening experience for me.”

There are more than 100 risk factors that can cause a pediatric stroke, including vascular disorders, sickle cell disease and even an infectious disease such as chicken pox. Aiden suffered a blood clot in his middle cerebral artery, but, as is the case with most children, a cause was never identified. After delivery, Aiden began having seizures, and Watkins noticed him making strange movements with his left arm.

Two days later, she and her husband were informed their son had suffered a stroke. After the diagnosis, they turned to Babies Can’t Wait, a statewide program that provides service to families with infants or toddlers who suffer from developmental delays or disabilities and began Aiden’s road to recovery.

“Reality was bound to set in soon and it didn’t take long. It wasn’t a dream, and no matter how bad I wanted it to be, it was real,” said Watkins, “So, we made a plan; we found therapists, doctors and the right pediatrician and began his journey of recovery.”

The stroke affected Aiden’s left side, which doesn’t allow him to perform tasks with his arm or walk correctly so the Watkins have to be aware of possible hip and spine problems. The stroke also affected the muscles in Aiden’s face and tongue, and, as a result, the tongue muscles aren’t developed fully or strong enough to form words correctly.

But Watkins says Aiden has adapted. She believes her son will always struggle with his left arm but she believes he will be able to walk normally and speak with the continuation of speech and physical therapy, which Aiden began at 3 months old.

“He has adapted to do things his own way, like learning to use his right arm to lift his leg to get into his car, which is fine for him now, but that’s also where the therapy comes in; He has to learn to keep weight on the left side to build strength,” she said.

Whether going out of town or just to the grocery store Watkins has to make sure Aiden is prepared for anything. With a low immune system and food allergies, Adien requires an EpiPen and eczema cream, and his numerous medicines have to remain cold.

“I pack a normal diaper bag times 10,” said Watkins, “It’s just making sure those little details are taken care of, like having a cup holder on the correct side of his car seat. It’s a lot of packing and planning.”

Along Adien’s journey Watkins found support from the Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA). The group offers support to families by providing educational information, online and local support through discussion groups and Facebook, and financial help through an orthotic grant program. Watkins found the group on Facebook and says the support she received made her feel like she wasn’t alone.

“I could simply get on my computer in the middle of the night and open up with my fears and concerns and have support from across the world readily waiting. They saved me. They made me feel normal again.”

Watkins says the best advice she can give to other mothers who are searching for support and answers is to simply enjoy your child and not to compare your child to other children or developmental charts. Watkins says this makes each milestone Aiden reaches much sweeter and meaningful.

“My son had a stroke and he is a pediatric stroke survivor. I am proud to have him and I am exceptionally proud at every milestone he reaches, even if the quality of it is not 100 percent,” said Watkins,

“He is a fighter and he deserves nothing less from me. I realized that this little guy was my rock, he was my inspiration to keep going. He never gave up fighting for his life and neither will I.”